What is the unaccompanied minor policy of American Airlines?

To ensure the safe travel of your child when you are not traveling with them remains a constant fear in the minds of the parents. However, having such thoughts is common when a parent/guardian plans an independent trip for a child. However, they don’t need to take the stress off if their child is flying with American Airlines because it offers the utmost support to its passengers, especially a kid who is traveling independently.

If your ward is using American Airlines unaccompanied minor service, then they will get all the assistance and care that the child needs at the airport, at the time of boarding, during the flight, and after they have landed. For this purpose, a description has been provided below for the parents so that they are aware of the same.

What is the unaccompanied minor policy of American Airlines?

A child’s safety is what matters the most, especially when they are traveling alone and are minors. For this purpose, American Airlines has stated their unaccompanied minor policy to ease your child's travel. Listed below are the policies that you should be clear about. Read them carefully:

The airline has stated that children aged 5 to 14 are entitled to mandatory unaccompanied minor services if they travel solo. Whereas children of the age group 15 to 17 have the option to use these services.
They are allowed to board early from the rest of the passengers, which provides them the opportunity to get settled and get familiar with the flight attendants.
An escort will be assigned to your child to help them with flight connections.
When the flight is landed, your ward will be handed over to the guardians at the airport.
The child is not allowed to travel alone if the trip includes flights with another airline, ground or co-terminal connections where the child is supposed to transfer from one to another local airport, overnight connecting flights, and the last flight of the day(in case it's the only flight)

How does an American Airlines unaccompanied minor work?

There are three phases that the unaccompanied minors will go through. Mainly at the airport, during the flight, and after landing. The parents of such children should know the proper steps of the process, for which the same has been provided below:

At the Airport

A parent/guardian has to arrive at the airport 2 hours before their ward’s flight and get in touch with the airline officials at the airport.
Guardians are to fill out the unaccompanied minor form on the day of departure of the flight, and this form will remain with the child during the whole journey.
For age proof of the child, a birth certificate or passport needs to be submitted at the airport.
The parents of the child need to submit their government-issued ID-Card, which contains their current address.
Your phone number should also be listed so that the officials can contact and inform you.
Also, the address, contact number, and name of the adults who will be collecting the child from the airport should be mentioned.

After your child has been checked in, the officials will provide you with a security pass from the ticket counter so that you can deliver your child to the gate.

Boarding and Take-off

The parents are advised to take their child to the departure gate and stay there until the flight takes off.
It is important to inform the agent at the departure gate that your ward is traveling on an unaccompanied basis.
Your child will be boarded early so that they can get familiar with the flight crew and understand the safety rules of the flight.
You will be informed by the gate agent when the flight takes off, and you can leave the airport.
Update the guardians who will pick up your child from the airport about the flights and departure.

During the flight

Remind your child to ask for help from the crew during the flight.
Keep wearing seatbelts and adhere to safety rules.
Wait for the familiar uniformed official to arrive and take them from the flight.

Arrival and Pick-up

It is important for the guardian to carry their ID-Card at the time of pickup so that they can get a security pass and meet the child at the gate. It is advisable that you should reach the airport 2 hours before the arrival of the flight in order to avoid the chaos at the last moment.

How do I get an American Airlines unaccompanied minor form?

Yes, you can fill out the unaccompanied minor form for your child to ensure they travel safely. The American Airlines unaccompanied minor form will be provided to you at the airport at the Airline’s Counter. You are required to bring a number of documents with you to fill out the form. These documents include the parent’s contact number, government-issued official ID Card, proof of their current address, and documents regarding the child’s information and name, address, and contact number of the guardians that will pick up their child.

How do I book an unaccompanied minor flight on American Airlines?

You can book your ward’s unaccompanied minor flight using the American Airlines call method. For this purpose, you can use American Airlines unaccompanied minor contact number, 800-433-7300, which is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week for your convenience. Feel free to connect with the airlines and manage your booking.

What is the unaccompanied minor fee of American Airlines?

When your child is in the range of 5 to 14 years of age, then it is compulsory for them to avail of the services provided for them under the unaccompanied minor section. If your ward age is between 15 to 17, then they have an option to choose whether to avail of these services or not. Whenever the child chooses to avail of these services, they have to pay the American Airlines unaccompanied minor fee, which is 150$ with additional taxes, and if they have additional siblings traveling with them on the same flight, they are covered under this fee.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned narrative describes all the solutions for the problems that have been raised in your mind while thinking of booking a flight for your ward under the unaccompanied minor section. This detailed description educates you about what is the unaccompanied minor policy of American Airlines, where you can fill out the unaccompanied minor form, how you can connect with the airlines to book your child’s flight, and what is the process that your ward will go through during their journey. So don’t hesitate and book your ward’s flight in the most comfortable way.